New Car seat laws come into effect 1st March 2017

Editor
Found 7th FebFound 7th Feb

New car seat laws come into effect on 1st March. The change is being introduced across the UK and Europe to increase safety as it has been proven that backless booster seats offer a lot less protection in the event of a crash than one with a back.

Please watch this crash test video if you are in any doubt of backed v's backless car seats VIDEO

The new law states that backless booster seats will no longer be able to be sold in stores from 1st March for use for children under 125cm tall or 22kg weight. Any backless boosters on sale will have their height and weight range suitabily and clearly displayed. Only seats with a back will be sold for use for children under 125cm height and under 22kg weight. However, if you have and use a backless booster seat currently, you will NOT be breaking the law by still using it after 1st March in children under the new weight / height range. It is just the law going forward for future purchases.

In preparation for the new laws, Halfords are offering a 20% discount on any group 2 or 3 high backed car seat in exchange for your old booster cushion or seat when you use code saferseat (all lowercase) at checkout and click and collect your new car seat from store. You hand over your old booster cushion when you collect your new one. The highly rated (4.6 out of 5 over 206 reviews) Halfords essentials high backed booster seat in black with ventilation holes, a removeable / washable cover and 2 year guarantee was £30 now down to £25 or trade in and you can get it for £20HERE

If you want a rear facing seat past 15 months, this Joie Stages Ember group 0-1-2 does rear facing until 18kg which is about 4 years old. After that, you can use it as a high backed booster seat until 25kg / age 7. In Smyths at moment for £149.99 and you get free home delivery.HERE

Other info to keep child safe and avoid breaking the lawAll children under 12 years old or 135cm tall (Whichever comes first) are required by law to use a car seat.

If you are using a height based seat known as i-Size, this MUST be kept rear facing until the child is at least 15 months of age. You can only use height based EU approved car seats in the UK and all of these are identifiable by having a label with a capital "E" and the code "R129" on the label.

If you are using a weight based car seat which come in different sizes for different weight ranges you can only use EU approved ones. These are identifiable by having a label with "E" and "ECER44"

All car seats must be fixed to the vehicle by either isofix anchor points or a diagonal safety belt unless it is specifically designed to be fitted with the lap strap that is usually in the middle seat.

If you are having a baby seat in the front passenger seat of a car you MUST deactivate the airbag before fitting. If you cannot independantly deactivate the air bag, you can't have a baby seat in the front.

Check you car model is suitable for the car seat that you want before buying - not all car seats fit all cars.

Remove a babies coat before fastening them into a car seat - if it's cold you can put blankets over the top of the seat belt but leaving the coat on creates a gap between the child and the harness which means if you have a crash it isn't as close to the childs body as it needs to be in order to properly restrain them. You should pull the harness tight and get 2 fingers between the child and the harness.

There are certain circumstances were a child can legally travel in a car without a car seat

1 - On unexpected emergency journeys if only for a short distance and the child is over three years old

2 - In a minibus, minicab, taxi, coach or van but not in the front

3 - If you have three children sitting in the back of the car, the third car seat simply won’t fit and the child in question is at least three years old.

If you are caught using the incorrect car seat after 1st March, you will get a £30 on the spot fine which rises to £500 if it goes to court.

seems odd you can still use old one, how can they prove when somone bought it?

7th Feb

Some great advice. Thanks OP

7th Feb

athunder

seems odd you can still use old one, how can they prove when somone … seems odd you can still use old one, how can they prove when somone bought it?

As per the OP:

The new law states that backless booster seats will no longer be able to be sold in stores from 1st March

You won't be able to buy them after the new law kicks in.

7th Feb

Is this an EU law?

7th Feb

RossD89

As per the OP:The new law states that backless booster seats will no … As per the OP:The new law states that backless booster seats will no longer be able to be sold in stores from 1st MarchYou won't be able to buy them after the new law kicks in.

you missed the end of that quote off, they are still sold just with different labeling, so seems like something impossible to police - unless there is a major accident involved.

7th Feb

Booster seats WILL still be sold in store. But the child has to be over 125 cm tall and over 22kg. Which ever comes first. Rear facing seats are to be used for children up to 4 years of age if possible but HAVE to be up to 15 months by the new law.

7th Feb

Hoddaz07

Booster seats WILL still be sold in store. But the child has to be over … Booster seats WILL still be sold in store. But the child has to be over 125 cm tall and over 22kg. Which ever comes first. Rear facing seats are to be used for children up to 4 years of age if possible but HAVE to be up to 15 months by the new law.

rear facing seats can be up to any age as long as child is within weight limit... Some go to 25kg which could easily be age 6 or 7. Also, ​rf for a minimum of 15 months only applies to iSize (r129) seats - for r44/04 seats people can still use them ff from 9kg (unfortunately!)

7th Feb

Thanks for the heads up. Just as well we listened in Mothercare and bought the seats with the backs.

7th Feb

Who makes these laws?? A 4 year old rear facing ??? It would smash their pelvis if there was a crash. Seriously even at 15 months is a struggle what if the child is too long to be rear faced then we don't go in car??

7th Feb

POWYSWALES

Is this an EU law?

Possibly but its safe gaurding my child so i'll take it.

Maybe when we are out of the EU we can run wild

7th Feb

Sassyshena

Who makes these laws?? A 4 year old rear facing ??? It would smash their … Who makes these laws?? A 4 year old rear facing ??? It would smash their pelvis if there was a crash. Seriously even at 15 months is a struggle what if the child is too long to be rear faced then we don't go in car??

Pelvis could be smashed when forward facing too!?

Have you ever even researched extended rear facing?

A child's legs can never be 'too long' for rear facing. They may outgrow height, but that's HIGHLY UNLIKELY around 14 months. More like around age 4 they'd be too tall to rear face.

Edited by: "Beanyo" 7th Feb

7th Feb

laurieleigh

rear facing seats can be up to any age as long as child is within weight … rear facing seats can be up to any age as long as child is within weight limit... Some go to 25kg which could easily be age 6 or 7. Also, ​rf for a minimum of 15 months only applies to iSize (r129) seats - for r44/04 seats people can still use them ff from 9kg (unfortunately!)

You are absolutely correct. I was just stating minimum requirements as everyone seems to be going off on the rear facing regulations. At the end of the day if they sit n realise rear facing is the safest for their child maybe I wouldn't see people want the cheapest car seat on a day to day basis instead of what's safest for their children

7th Feb

This mght not be 100% correct as I'm sure there is talks of fines (if not mow but in the very near future) for people continuing to use backless boosters. I will check.

Another seat worth considering is the graco milestone which is rear facing to 13kg and currently under £100 most places.

7th Feb

Just to follow up on my previous post it seems that it's a case if being possibke but unlikely to be fined as they COULD fine you £500 for "use of incorrect car seat" if you use a backless booster on too small a hild regardless of whether you already had it or not.

8th Feb

POWYSWALES

Is this an EU law?

Yeah I just checked. This and the straight bananas....

When we are out we can freely put our kids at risk and eat bent bananas. Britain will finally be great again.

8th Feb

Our great Granddaughter will not keep her arms in her seat belt, is there anything that clips onto the belt to safeguard her.

8th Feb

joanddan7

Yeah I just checked. This and the straight bananas....When we are out we … Yeah I just checked. This and the straight bananas....When we are out we can freely put our kids at risk and eat bent bananas. Britain will finally be great again.

The extra £350m a day into the NHS will easily cover the cost of repairing mangled tots. Stop being a remoaner.

8th Feb

My son is currently rear facing in his infant carrier. We have already bought his next stage seat which is front facing. He's 11 months and weighs more than 9kg, am I ok to use the front facing or do I need to purchase a new rear facing seat?

8th Feb

BeckyMorley

My son is currently rear facing in his infant carrier. We have already … My son is currently rear facing in his infant carrier. We have already bought his next stage seat which is front facing. He's 11 months and weighs more than 9kg, am I ok to use the front facing or do I need to purchase a new rear facing seat?

you're still legally allowed to put a 9kg, 11 month old forward facing but it's safer to keep rear facing. At the very least keep him in his infant carrier until he outgrows it.

8th Feb

Sandra47

Our great Granddaughter will not keep her arms in her seat belt, is there … Our great Granddaughter will not keep her arms in her seat belt, is there anything that clips onto the belt to safeguard her.

Try the BeSafe belt collector

8th Feb

My 10 year old is over 140 cm and hasn't used anything other than the car seat itself for a very long time. Does this change??

11th Feb

BeckyMorley

My son is currently rear facing in his infant carrier. We have already … My son is currently rear facing in his infant carrier. We have already bought his next stage seat which is front facing. He's 11 months and weighs more than 9kg, am I ok to use the front facing or do I need to purchase a new rear facing seat?

​You can legally use the front facing seat but I personally would not recommend it. Front facing seats offer no protection to the neck or spine in the event of a crash and as such are responsible for some horrific injuries to children. Rear facing seats support the while back and neck and the child many tunes safer in a collision. Personal choice but I would never put my child in a front facing seat before the age of 4.

Original Poster
Editor
11th Feb

Choclatluva

My 10 year old is over 140 cm and hasn't used anything other than the car … My 10 year old is over 140 cm and hasn't used anything other than the car seat itself for a very long time. Does this change??

No nothing changes as he is over 135cm

25th Feb

77momo

Possibly but its safe gaurding my child so i'll take it. Maybe when we … Possibly but its safe gaurding my child so i'll take it. Maybe when we are out of the EU we can run wild

Makes you wonder how those oppressive dictatorships of Australia and Canada make their own car seat laws doesn't it?